Fish bait



March 20, 1928. 1,663,080

C. HEDDON FISH BAIT Filed May 29. 1926 1?: 0mm U/zwrZarfiez/daw Patented Mar. 20, 1928.-

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE...

CHARLES Harmon, or nowaemc, moment, assrenoairo' JAMESlHEDDONS sons,

or nowaemc, mcarean, A coaroaarron or .MICHIGAN'.

FISH "3am. I

Application filed May 29, 1926. Serial No. 112,590.

- The bait of the present invention is designed to simulate the appearance of a natural frog, and, at the same time, to incorporate into the structure of the bait certain 5 features which have heretofore been applied solely to minnow baits of the character largely in use at the present tlme for the hiring of fresh water game fishes.

The bait of the present invention is Intended, by its configuration, to so re-act against the pressure of the water when the line is being retrieved so as to cause the bait to dart from side to side and otherwise simulate the action of a live bait, and, at the same time, when at rest, to assume the oblique position naturally occupied by a live frog when resting with its legs dangling downwardly and its head elevated above the surface.

Furthermore, the configuration of the rear portion of the bait not only is intended to simulate the separated legs of a frog, but this arrangement is of particular value in that it provides a guard for the sides of the hook which tends, in considerable measure, to prevent fouling of the hook Without in any Way detractin from the natural appearance of the bait as a whole. The invention in particular relates tothe formation and arrangement of the bait in such a way as to afford a preponderance of weight at a point to the rearof the center ofbuoyancy, so that when the bait is at rest, it will assume the oblique position previously referred to in conjunction with themeans provided for insuring movement in a bait having the weight thus distributed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bait showmg the position assumed when at rest;

Fig. 2 is a top or-plan view. of the bait; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof.

The bait comprises a body portion 10.

which, as indicated in Fig. 3, is of substantially circular form in cross section at the middle ortion thereof,- and which tapers forward y and merges into a contracted neck 11, which in turn merges into a head 12 which extends ob'li uely downward from the body, and is roun ed on its under surface and flat on its upper or front ortion 13.

, The flattening of the front exten s upward 1y to the neck of the bait and, when the bait is being retrieved anddying horizontally, this front surface presents an obliquely disposed flat area for impingement against the water which causes a pressure at this point which will be relieved ,by the back flow of the waterlaterally around the sides of the neck, thereby occasioning a condition of unstable equilibrium, which will cause the bait to dartfrom side toside in simu-;

lation of the natural movements of a live bait swimming through the water.

The belly and back portions of the body are tapered rearwardly,jat what might be termed the thigh portion 14 of the, bait, which is the portion thereof which merges Into the legs 1515, and the body portion of the bait through the crotch portion 16 thereof is rounded, as indicated in Fig. 1, giving to the body as a whole, exclusive of the legs, an elongated pear shaped formation. The shank of the hook '17 is entered into the crotch portion of the body and lies in substantially parallel relation with and between the legs, so that it is protected thereby with the curved barbed portion 18 extending upwardly from the plane of the legs. The line tie 19 is mounted at a point slightly above the extreme tip of the head, which position of the line tie assists in developing the unstable condition of equilibrium during retrieving which results in the darting and dipping movements of the bait when in action.

The bait as a whole is of buoyant character, but in order to properly distribute the mass in such a way as to cause the bait to assume the oblique resting position indicatedin Fig. 1, suitable provision is made for 10- cating a preponderance of the mass at a point to the rear of the center of buoyancy. This may be accomplished'by the use of a lead insert 20 into a body composed of re1a-= tively buoyant material, such as Wood or the like, or by otherwise adequately weighting the bait, or coring out the forward portion thereof with a view of displacing the center of mass to a point behind the center of buoyancy.

This method of distributing the mass will cause the bait, when at rest, to assumethe natural position of a resting frog, but when the baitis being retrieved, the pull of the line and the resistance "of the water will straighten out the bait, so that it will trail freely in a substantially horizontal position,

thereby simulating the appearance of a momentarily into a natural oblique position untilretrieving begins.

-The present bait is designed to possess man of the advantageous features of a woo en minnow bait combined with the special or culiar natural features of a live frog, an in particular to utilize the leg porvi ing for a flattening tions as a suitable and adequate guard for the hook. Also b disposing the head in obli ue relationto t e body, or otherw1se.pro-.

of the forward. surface, and preferably reducing the widthof the neck, adequate provision 1s made for imparting a li e like motion to the bait, despite theweightin of the rear end of the bait and the division of the trallmg' legs, both of which are factors tendlng to hold the bait in a straight line of movement, which tendency, however, is adequately compensated for and overcome b the form of the forward end ofthe bait 1n the manner indicated.

- Thisgives to the bait as 'awhole not only the general appearance of a natural fro g, but utilizes such features of 'configurationm a wa which will perform the mechamcal functions required 1n imparting to such a bait the degree of movement necessary to simulate the natural movements of the frog when 'swimmin Also by arranging the line tie at 'a point which, when the bait is trailing through the water, W111 be below the center of resistance, the darting effect will be accentuated, and such position of the line tie, in conjunction with the oblique d1 sposition of the forward impinging end, Wlll advantageously influence the action of the bait in overcoming its tendency to trail in a straight line by reason of the configuration of its rear end and the disposition of i the weight.

body, the neck and head extending obliquely downward with respect to the longitudinal axis of :the body, the upper surface of the head being flattened substantially ,from the tip thereof to the point of mergence into the neck to afford an obliquely presented area of impingement adequate to impart life-like .movements to the bait when the bait is in team trailing at its rear end to simulate the legs of a frog, substantially as described.

connected with the dy by a neck of reduced transverse diameter as compared with the transverse. diameters of the head and position, and the body being divided 2. A bait consistin of a body and a head body, the neck and head extending obliquely downward with res ect to the longitudinal axis of the body, t e upper surface of the head being tip thereo to the'point of mergence into the flattened substantially from the;

neck to afford an obliquely presented area of v impingement adequate to impart life-like movements to the bait when the bait is in trailing position, the body being divided at its .rear end to simulate the le s of a frog, and the preponderance of mass eing located to the rear of the center of buoyancy, substantially as described.

3. A bait consistin of a body and a head connected with the ody by a neck of reduced transverse diameter as-compared withthe transverse diameters of the head and body, the neck and head extending obliquely downward with respect to the longitudinal axis of. the body, the upper surface of the head bein flattened substantially from the tip thereo to the point of mergence into the neck to afford an obliquely presented area of impingement adequate to impart life-like movements to the bait when the bait is in trailing position, the body being divided at its rear end to simulate the legs of a frog, and the preponderance of mass being located to the rear of the center of buoyancy, and a line-tie at the forward end of the bait -lo-v cated in position to lie below the center of resistance when the bait occupies its trailing position in retrieving, substantially as described.

loo

4. A bait consisting of a body and a head Lmovements to the bait when the bait is in trailing position, and the body being divided at its rear end to simulate the le s of afrog,

and a line-tie at the forward em of the bait located in position to lie below the center of resistance when the bait occupies its trailing position in retrieving, substantially as described.

5. A bait consisting of a body of generally pear-shaped formation and a head rounded on its under side and connected with the body by a neck of reduced transverse diameter as compared with the transverse diameters of the h iid and body, the neck and head extend" g obli uely' downward with respect to the longitu the Upper surface of the head being flattened substantially from the tip thereof to the oint of mergence into the neck to afford an o liquely presented area of impingement ade uate to impart life-like movements to the ait when the bait is in trailing position,

and the body being divided at its rear end the upper surface of the head being flat tened substantiallyfrom the 'tip thereof to the point of mcrgence into the neck to afford an obliquely presented area of impingement ade uate to impart life-like movements to theaiait when'the bait is in trailing position,the bod being divided at its rear end to simulate the legs of a frog, and the prepon'derance of mass being located to the rear of the center of buoyancy, substantially as 7. A bait consisting of a body of generally pear-shaped formation and a hea rounded on its under side and connected with the body by a neck of reduced transverse diameter as compared with the transverse di ameters of the head and body, the neck and head extendin obliquely downward with respect to the ongitudinal axis of the bod the u er surface of the head bein pp g i mpartlife-l1k e movements to'the bait when 1 flattened substantially from the tip thereof to the point of mergence into'the neckto afford an obliquely presented area of impingement adequate to impart life-like movements to the bait when the bait is in trailing position, the body being divided at its rear end to simulate the legs of a frog, and the preponderance of mass being located to the rear of the center of buoyancy, and a line-tie at the forward end of the bait located in position to lie below the center of resistance when the bait occupiesits trailing position inretrieving, substantially as described.

8. A bait consisting of a body of generally dpear-shaped formation and a head roun ed on its under side and connected with the body by a neck of reduced transverse diameter as compared with the transverse diameters of the head and body, the neck and head extending obliquely downward with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body, te upper surface of the head being flattened substantially from the tip thereof to the point of mergence into the neck to afford an obliquely presented area of impingement inal axis of the body,-

ade'uate to impart life-like movements to the ait when the bait is in trailing position and the body being divided atits rear end to simulate the legs of a fro and a line-tie at the forward end of the bait located in position to lie below the center of resistance when-the bait occupies its trailing position 'in retrieving, substantially as described.

9. A bait consisting of a body of generally pear-shaped formation and}; head rounded on its under side and conriectcdwith the body by a neck of reducedtransverse diametel as comparedwith the transverse diame-.. L

d ters of the head and body, the neck and head extending obliquely downward with respect to the longitudinal axis of the" body to a p:oint outside of the reatest transverse sectional plane of the b0 y,'the upper surface of .the head being flattened substantially from the top thereof to the point of mergence into the neck to afford an obliquely presented area of impingement adequate to impart lifelike movements to the bait when the bait is in trailing position, and the body being divided at its rear-end to simulate the legs of a frog,substantially as described.

10. A bait consisting 'of a body of generally pear-shaped formation and a head rounded on its underside and connected with the body by a neck of reduced transverse diameter as compared withfthe transverse diameters of the head and body, the neck and head d extending obliquely downward with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bodyto a point-outside of the greatest transverse sec tional plane .of the body, the upper surface of the head being flattened substantially from the to thereof to the point of mergence into t e neck to afford an obliquely resented area of-implngement adequate to the bait isin trailing position, the body being divlded at its rear end to simulate the legs ofa' frog, and the preponderance of mass beinglocated to the rear of the center of buoyancy, substantially as described.

11. A bait consisting of a body, of gen-- erally rounde on itsunder side and connected with ear-shaped formation and a head the body by a neck of reduced transverse diameter as eomparedwith the transverse diameters of the head and body, the neck and gence into the neck to afiiord an obliquely presented area of impingement adequate to impart life-like movements to the bait when the bait is in trailing position, the body being divided at its rear end to simulate the le s of a frog, and the preponderance of mass being located to the rear of the center of buoyancy and a line-tie at the forward end of thebait located in position to liebelow' of the body to a pointoutside of thegreatest transverse sectional plane of the body, the 1 upper surface of the head being flattened substantially point-of mergence into the neck to afford an obliquely. resented area of impingementadequate to' nnpart life-like movements to the j bait when the bait is in trailing position, the

body being divided at its rear endto slmulate the legs ofa frog, and a line-tie at the forward endof the bait located in position to lie below the center the bait occuples-its trallin positlon inreof resistance when trieving, substantially as escribed.

fromthe top thereof to the CHARLES HEDDON. 

